For their first "Breakfast With Dads" event, administrators at a South Dallas middle school were looking for 50 to 100 male mentors to help.

But on Thursday morning, nearly 600 men arrived at Billy Earl Dade Middle School to volunteer at the gathering focused on Dade's male students. The crowd of volunteers came from diverse backgrounds, including dads from various parts of Dallas, men in local law enforcement, public officials and community organizers.

Principal Tracie Washington said she wanted her students to have a large group of positive male role models for the event. Mentorship, she said, is not an easy thing for a young student to ask for, but about 150 students requested a mentor.

Words cannot describe the impact mentoring youth can have on both you and your mentee. Powerful to see a community of fellow men and fathers come together to wrap their arms around or young men. Thank you for having me out. pic.twitter.com/2fTicFpzws

For many volunteering, it was their first time visiting the school. Jason Tren of Dallas said he had seen a post about the event and wanted to give back. The request for mentors went out to the community last week because some students' fathers would not be at the event.

“If I were in the place of these young men, I’d want someone to step up,” Tren said.

The boys, ages 11 to 13, reacted with smiles and questions during one activity that focused on how to tie a necktie. Some had learned before and forgotten. Others were taught for the first time Thursday morning.

Each mentor visited and inspired in a different way.

Taylor Toynes, founder of the community group For Oak Cliff, came to visit one former Sarah Zumwalt Middle School student who had transferred to Dade. Marcellous Williams of the Texas Army National Guard talked to students about military service. Dean McCurry, an auctioneer, showed them how to auction like a pro.

Dean McCurry, an auctioneer by profession, shows how to auction during the "Breakfast with Dads" event at Billy Earl Dade Middle School.

(Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer)

During an activity to learn how to tie a tie, men offer ties they brought to students to learn to make a knot during the "Breakfast with Dads" event.

(Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer)

A mentor jokes with a student during an activity on learning how to tie a tie during the "Breakfast With Dads" event at Billy Earl Dade Middle School in Dallas on Dec. 14, 2017. This is the first annual breakfast at the school where mentors meet boys from the school.

(Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer)

Miguel Sifuentes sits among students while they eat breakfast during the "Breakfast with Dads" event at Billy Earl Dade Middle School in Dallas.

(Andy Jacobsohn/Staff Photographer)

“I live in North Dallas and I came here today to see what I can help with. These kids are smart and so enthusiastic,” McCurry said, smiling from ear to ear. “This is what Dallas needs.”

McCurry said he wants to return to the school to do a mock auction with fake money and give away prizes.

More than three years ago, Dade Middle School was one of the worst-performing middle schools in the district. The school has recruited help from local churches and organizations, and received extra support from Dallas ISD with its Accelerating Campus Excellence school program.